HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State placed five runners in the top 10 to win its ninth consecutive ACCC men’s cross country championship Friday at John Hunt Park.
Jaquavion Bryant led the Lions with a second-place finish in the 8K race, clocking 26:49.7. Wallace State finished with 33 points to secure its third conference championship under head coach Tony Crider. Shelton State was second with 62 points, followed by Southern Union with 67.
The championship followed a season in which Crider said the Lions had limited opportunities to race with a full lineup.
“We really hadn’t been able to run a full men’s team, a full race until October the first,” Crider said. “So it’s been very much a learning experience.”
Wallace State’s depth helped deliver the title. Dawson McCollum finished fifth in 27:10.2, followed by Hudson Williams in seventh at 27:25.0. Rene Moreno placed ninth in 27:31.4, and Evan Hallford completed the Lions’ scoring five in 10th at 27:35.1.
Gabe Knox finished 14th in 27:58.1, while Carter Stephens placed 16th in 28:09.4.
Crider credited Moreno for his leadership and performance as the Lions leaned heavily on their younger runners.
“Rene’s been a great leader and came on strong today,” Crider said. “Give Rene all the kudos today for what he did.”
Bryant’s runner-up finish gave Wallace State its lowest individual score. He credited his teammates’ confidence in him for helping him deliver.
“I put forth a lot of effort, a lot of hard work, and I just wanted to make my team proud because they know I can do a lot, and they believe in me more than I do myself,” Bryant said.
For Bryant, contributing to the championship carried added meaning after he watched the previous season’s team win while he was redshirting. He said that experience motivated him to play a part in extending the Lions’ championship streak.
Crider praised Bryant’s ability while also pointing to the work of the entire group.
“He’s an unbelievable athlete,” Crider said. “But we have a lot of kids that are just strong. They’re built for running. They’ve worked hard.”
Jeremy Brayden Chandler added a 17th-place finish in 28:27.8. Wilkes finished 25th in 29:08.8, and Silas Strickland placed 33rd in 29:44.4.
With his attention turning toward national competition, Bryant said his focus is on maintaining consistency and working with his teammates.
“Just do what I did today, or just be better,” Bryant said. “Just keep it consistent. Get out of my head and work with the team.”
